Eating More Fruits And Veggies May Help You Quit Smoking

6/11/2012 6:45 PM ET

Smoking cessation may be easier for those who eat more fruits and vegetables, according to a report published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research on June 5.

One thousand smokers, ages 25 and older, were surveyed on smoking and dietary habits. The study found that smokers who consumed the most fruits and veggies daily were the least likely to begin smoking again.

"We may have identified a new tool that can help people quit smoking," said Jeffrey P. Haibach, MPH, first author on the paper and graduate research assistant at SUNY Buffalo.

"It is . . . possible that fruits and vegetables give people more of a feeling of satiety or fullness so that they feel less of a need to smoke, since smokers sometimes confuse hunger with an urge to smoke," Haibach added.